Cablegate: Spain Country Clearance for Department of Treasury

VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2604 2890949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160949Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1031
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS MADRID 002604

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
DELEGATION

REF: SECSTATE EMAIL DTD 10/10/06

1. Embassy grants country clearance and warmly welcomes
Department of Treasury Delegation; Robert Michael Kimmitt,
Deputy Secretary, Colleen Eddy, Policy Advisor, Vickie Alvo,
Economist for Iraq, Alexander Monsarrat, Financial Economist,
and James Freis, Deputy Assistant General Counsel to travel
to Madrid, Spain from October 18 to October 19, 2006. The
purpose of this visit is to meet with management of U.S.
banks operating in Spain.

2. Post will coordinate requested meetings and meet and
assist upon arrival. Control Officer is Carl Schonander,
Economic Officer, he can be reached at Embassy number
91-587-2295, cell phone number 699-466-473 or email address
schonanderce@state.gov.

3. Hotel reservations have been made at Hotel Esperia Madrid
located at Paseo de la Castellano, 57 and the numbers are
phone: 34-91-210-8800, fax: 34-91-210-8899. The perdiem rate
for Spain is $239 and M&IE is $138.

4. Visitors are reminded that bearers of diplomatic and
official passports coming to Spain on official business need
to obtain a Spanish visa prior to arrival to Spain.

5. THREAT ASSESSMENT:

In general, Spain is safe. However, Madrid, Barcelona and
other large cities in Spain -- including resort/convention
areas such as Benidorm -- attract a large number of criminals
and pickpockets and frequent incidents of crime of
opportunity against the unwary do occur. Carry only
essential items including a photocopy of your passport's
photo page. Visitors can protect themselves against crime by
being street-smart, alert and aware of their surroundings.
In the event you are victimized by crime, or experience any
security-related incident, please contact the Embassy's
Regional Security Office at 91-587-2550 or after hours at
91-587-2355. Official visitors to the Embassy in Madrid or
the Consulate General in Barcelona are encouraged to receive
a security briefing from the RSO office at their earliest
convenience. Additional information regarding safety and
security in Spain is available on the U.S. Department of
State's website (www.embusa.es).

Travelers are encouraged to review the most recent Worldwide
Caution issued by the Department of State. As the Department
of State continues to develop information on any potential
security threats to Americans overseas, it shares credible
threat information through its Consular Information Program
documents, available on the Internet at
http://travel/state.gov. In addition to information on the
Internet, U.S. travelers can hear recorded information by
calling the Department of State in Washington, D.C. at
202-647-5225 from their touch-tone telephone, or receive
information by automated telefax by dialing 202-647-3000 from
their fax machine.
AGUIRRE

© Scoop Media